Music Makes the People....

Music makes the people come together. It certainly did last night. I happened to be playing tour guide with 4 of our delightful guests in our 2 bedroom apartment next door. I had suggested to the four gals from the USA that, if they were going to Patpong that evening, then they should definitely pop into DJ Station a bit before 11:30 to catch the cabaret show. Fast forward 30 minutes later and the 5 of us were crammed into a taxi hell bent for Silom. That’s right, my feeble protest of having to work the next day was to no avail.

As usual the show was fabulous, in my humble opinion, and I could tell from the reaction of my guests that they also were impressed w/ the sheer energy, talent and enthusiasm of the performers. It wasn’t long before the air was filled with the deep, sexy dance beat of today’s best tunes, turning the club into a place ‘not just where you bump and grind.’ To be sure, almost everyone was dancing but as I surveyed the crowd (as I did my own little ‘bump and grind’) I was struck by something else. A bit of an epiphany I suppose. You couldn’t have concocted a more diverse group of revelers if your life had depended upon it. To be sure, most of the crowd were gay, ranging in age from barely legal to bordering feeble, but also included a lively mix of straight guys and girls, and befitting the show we had just watched, was punctuated here and there with the most exotic looking creatures. I’m referring here of course to the ladyboys, drag queens, transgender and all the other terms that are used when referring to those who fall outside of straight or gay. And the revelation wasn’t that this patchwork quilt of people had all come out to dance on a Monday night, but that, despite all their differences, there was an invisible ‘glue’ holding them together in this happy, heady mix called DJ Station. That ‘glue’, I realized was Music. I realized then that Music is a powerful weapon that could cut through long held stereotypes, misconceptions, prejudice and even hatred. If we let it.

Imagine regime change through Music. CD’s falling quietly through the sky, finding their way into MP3 players, lifting and enlightening entire repressed societies, who then see neighbors in a totally new light. If I were running for the highest office of the world’s superpower, you can bet that Music would be part of my platform. OK, right up there with the economy. And my running mate? Think M. Think ‘bump and grind’.

Bangkoksong. Even our name has music in it. Each of our apartments comes with its own music system, MP3 player compatible or borrow from our library of way cool tunes. Let’s dance.

Guest post by Randall

Ain’t No Big Deal

When you see a beautiful girl in Thailand, don’t believe your eyes just yet.

Why?

I’ll tell you why.

Thailand has been and will always be a Buddhist country. Imported from Sri Lanka centuries ago, Buddhism has proven to be long lasting.

We learn Buddhism from Day 1. Little school kids are “encouraged” to learn The 5 Precepts by heart. Bigger kids have to be familiar w/ biography of every important historical figure - the Prince Siddhartha and his contemporaries. But, everyone gets to mediate for a few minutes before the class starts.

I was one of those kids and I don’t recall meditating. All we wanted was for the teacher to say “Now, you can open your eyes.” Next followed the preaching and we knew that the class’s end was looming. Then what?

Volleyball time.

I must admit that I’ve 'returned' all the lectures and details to my teachers and I’m certain most people my age have done the very same thing. Who cares? No more excruciating examinations.

But a few things do remain.

Looking back, I realize there’s one thing missing from those religious sessions. One thing that’s never discussed. One thing that’s all up to you to form your own take on.

Same-gender attraction!

There’s no condemnation on a guy who happens to be attracted to a mustache, or muscled pair of arms, or a hairy chest, or the masculine loin of another guy. Likewise, no text book has any take on dykes.

So now, what is the Thai public left w/?

Our own subconscious interpretation.

Luckily, as I see it, we see that everyone is the way they are because of what they did in the past lives. Everyone has their own karma to enjoy AND deal w/, male or female or otherwise. And of course, Nirvana is accessible to anyone who perseveres. So, what’s the implication of all this?

Yes, he is straight. He’s what people call a real man. But, at the end of the day, does it really matter when he’s late at work all the time while his gay colleague is more efficient?

I myself heard a taxi driver say that he wished his son was gay bacause he didn't like how a bad boy would think it's cool not to pay attentin to classes.

Pls don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting that gay men achieve more. We see gay people who just waste the air and space in our society as well.

I’d also say it’s not ideal for most parents to have a homosexual child because of that 'continuing the family name' thing. But what people here would say or do when that happens is “Well, so what else can we do? He probably won't get married. He doesn’t seem to like girls. Let’s just raise him to be a decent person then.”

And it turns out that….that unspoken permission has encouraged a lot of gay boys in extreme numbers!.

About the girl in the photo, no no, she’s not a dyke. She’s a man, or used to be a boy, or, whatever!

Cheerful Joe